Machine for trimming primer cups and the like



April 20, 1948. P, E K ET AL 2,440,08

MACHINE FOR TRIMMING PRIMER CUPS AND THE LIKE Filed June 3, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. 26 HEIPBERT/ EEK Q I Q HTTORNEY.

pril 20, 1948. H. P. ECK ET AL MACHINE FOR TRIMMING PRIMER CUPS AND THE LIKE Filed June 3, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS, JHEPEERTF'. EEK

Mm? T/N MKHRLHN DUE/MU, FERRLJEQ/ HTTORMY April 2Q, 1948.- V P. ECK ET AL 2,440,080

MACHINE FOR TRIMMING PRIMER CUPS AND THE LIKE Filed June 3, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. 8 J HERE/EH71. EEK

MHRT/N M. KHRLHN CUE/MU FERRULC/ HTTORNEY.

i atented A pr.

MACHINE FOR TRIMMING PRIMER CUPS I AND THE LIKE Herbert P. Eck, Martin M. Karlan, and Cosimo Perrucci, New York, N. Y.

Application June a, 1943, Serial No. 489,518

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for trimming primer cups and the like and has for a principal object the'provision of a machine for automatically orienting primer cups or othercup-like members, sequentially presenting them to a finishing tool, and discharging them frOm said machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hopper spaced apart from and connected to said machine by means of a chute, said hopper being adapted to receive primer cups or the like and including driven mechanism for orienting said cups and delivering them to'said chute all facing the same direction.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a cup finishing machine, of novel means for automatically receiving cups one at a time from a feeding chute, successively clamping said cups in a holding member, advancing each clamped cup along a predetermined path and into engagement with a finishingtool. r

. Otherobjects and advantages of our invention will be. apparent to those skilled in the art, upon a study of the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings given'by way of example to illustrate the invention, like numerals in the several figures represent the same parts, and V Figure 1 is a side elevation of our new and improved cup trimming or finishing machine;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the mechanism for receiving the cups from the feeding device and presenting them to the finishing tool, one cup being shown engaged by the tool and a second cup in position to be delivered to said mechanism on the. next succeeding machine cycle;

Figure 4'is a sectional elevation as seen along the lines 4- 1! of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view similar to Figure 3, with the exception that the parts are in different positions and the second cup (shown in Figure 3) is positioned to be advanced toward the finishing tool;

Figure 6 is an elevation of our chuck member for holding the cups while the finishing operation is performed thereon;

Figure 7 is a perspective view, exploded and showing the elements forming the chuck member; c

Figure 8 is a sectional view of one arrangement of the members for clamping and releasing cups in the-chuck member, said first members being shownin the releasing position wheel A discharge chute is provided to receive the finished cups and to deliver them to a suitable container therebelow. An elevated hopper on the machine is provided for receiving the cups to be finished and it orients said cups and delivers them to a feed chute which in turn delivers them to the mechanism below. All the operator has to do is to pour cups to be finished into the hopper and see that the container of finished cups does not run over. Since a hoppenfull of cups will supply the machine for some time, one operator can keep several of the machines going at one time.

The machine includes, referring to Figures 1 and 2, a table top Ill, mounted on legs H and I2. Between the top [0 and the floor is a shelf l3, also supported by the legs II and I2, and forming a support for the driving motors l4 and I5 and the reduction gear IS.

The driving motor l4 carries a pulley I! which is connected by means of a belt I8 to a pulley l9 carried on the spindle 20 of a spindle head 2| mounted on the table top H). A finishing tool 22 is driven by the spindle 20, and although this tool is shown in the drawings, by way of example, as a milling cutter; it will be understood that it may be of other for-ms in accordance with the particular operation to be performed on the cups or other cavity bearing bodies handled in the machine.

The motor [5 carries a pulley 23 which is connected by a belt 24 to a pulley 25 carried on a shaft 26 of the gear reduction unit [6. A longitudinal shaft 21 in the gear reduction l6 projects through opposite ends of the casing thereof. On one end of the shaft 21 is secured a crank 28 which defines the cyclic operation of the machine, as will presently be described.

The opposite end of the shaft 21 has secured thereto a pulley!!! which is connected, by means of a belt 30, to a pulley 3|. Since the pulley 3| is in a plane angular with respect to the axis of the shaft 21, idler pulley 32 and 33 are pro- 3 vided for guiding the belt from one plane to the other. The pulley 3| drives mechanism for orienting the parts to be finished by the machine.

A stud shaft I53 is adjustably carried on an upright member I54 secured to the table I5 and suitably braced by a bracing member I55.

A supporting member has an upright portion 34 the lower end of which is securedto .ablock member 35 mounted onthe table I55." The upper end 35 of the supporting member is angular with respect to said upright portion, and a curved. portion 31 therebetween is suitably braced by means of aweb 38. I

A base 39 for the material hopper 40 is car-- ried on the upper portion 36 above referred to,,

and this base includes a bearingboss M for the,

4 of the connecting rod is bifurcated to form a yoke 58 having portions 58a and 58b spaced apart from each other. A pin 59 is mounted in aligned holes formed in 58a and 581). A boss 60 is secured to the table I0 and has a pair of spaced slots formed therein into which are mounted the ends of a pair of equal link members 62 and 63.. anda pivot-pin Bl extends through a cross hole in the-block fifl and forme aipivpt. pin engagedby suitable bearing holes in the right ends of said link members. The left ends of the link members 62 and 63, have bearing holes therein engagingthe. pin. 59 adjacent to the yoke 58a and 581).

Between! the link members 62 and 63, and also agitator shaft '42. The lower end of the agitator shaft has pulleys 3i and 3m positively sc'uredJ thereto. The pulley 3| is engaged by thabelt 3Q, as has already been described, and the pulley am is smaller in diameter and is connected by a belt' 43 to a pulley 44* which is positively secured to a shaft 45 which-is also 'journal'edin the ba'se 39. The upper e'nd qr-the shaft "(mines a' starcam 46. the purpose of which will bepresently described.

The hopper 40 is mounted on the base 39'ahd has an openend-'41 through which primer cups or the like may be poured-into the hopper-. The base 39 has an extended portion 48 which is hollowed out to adepthequal to thehei'ghtj of the cups plus clearance anagfqrmsa' hafnber 50 for receiving said-cups after they have been orientedas will bepresentlydescribed: Afltransparent cover- 49 on "thebhambef permits the movement of the cups to beobserved Within the bottom of the-"hopper disc (see Figure I 10) has a plurality "of;- slots-[52 than the outside diameter of; the cupsj's'o that it is impossible for; said "cupsQtoJpassfthrough. As the agitator 'disc retatesgitkee s stirrin up thecups andany cups with the-closedends up D? an mounted on the upper endof-theshaftl-l isan agitator disc 5l 'whichis-rotatedw-hen the pulley 3!.is driven by-thbelt 35'} "The agitator 5 cannot 'get through the spaces 54 enter the chamber 5!], however theinteriors ofjany cups with the open e ds, up a ma e en in. Fig-V e a e e. no h sonwe ee h iand' are kickedout into the chamberfil by the slot.

'52; in which the caplies, "andjfs'incethe depth-O the chamber is less than the capsacross corners,

it is impossible forthe 'capsto turn over there:- in

The star wheelg lfi is positioned in theloweli endof thechamber 5,0,,1 anddue toftherfact that the chamber is inclined, the cups all grayita te to said lower. end and are, singlyengaged by Isaid starwheel.

F rm n e. s pnortina embe tfifl, .31, 3-5.; is a column forthe cuDfMtheIupperend offwhich. communicates with. the. discharge side; of. thastar wheel, and the lower erid-bf'which com-f municates with the feed cavity: 56 shown.

Figure 3.

The crank 28, figures; da ha been prekviously referred to, as v dei'iningthe cyclic ope ns. f. the. machi crane. is re o the emit, nd has. h w rid li abo lnebb.

ing Y rod 51; connected theret The end piuot pin. fiflwextend throuehho e t nttheuslettedi.

,f rtheihfii randthe. end. ofsaid ,link. The t row ofv thecrank is so proportioned; that crank. moves .a half revolution;or180. v from the n e iiq z h r i f isi rei h hnks & 3 more we h ri tal msii m; h s. nrw

mevina h ha fl' L- o; ts. xtr me Witwawamr he e tqm; h s i l z senvhat; as .the: crank. 28; turns: it causes. thevishaft fi l :to'

reciprocate in the block 6% The sha t- 1; El -sures; and =,h s. portio fifil-o ir duced diameter. to which e un dia col-v Ian; I'll, the function; eta-which: wilnpresentlst be:

described; The endgportionl. 1:21: of; the. shaft: 6:1; funotionsas; a, cam; as; will badescribedl The :block; 561. has aslot; 11 formed: therein. to.-

accommodate a 183 28111131. A. shaft; 'hlziextends. throughy aligned holes. in. the; block; Giraud through a corresponding: hole. in. the lever: 13; Spring means .1 5;urges=.the :lever; Jillina counter.- clockwise direction; asrseen= inFigureA; and the function vof: this. lever will presently described:

A basemember .16 is-secured: to the table 10' in whi h f da s. th col a 0 he .v h shaft portion 69; is .moving to the Rift; cndpf; its...

path ofitravel,

he, eed. Q eV F fi;.. 1L n a the lower end-of the feed 001' 55, is formedlin the' base member 16, as ay, adjacent to and.v

communicatingyith .the. hole .1']. The feedcavs ityl 56; preferably is. one. end, of, a sletr19,-mil l ed 1.

m the, base l'6,at ,a right angleibwtheiholeell. etiprocativ ly. mou ted in: ha sl t-i mam-b ,member which has a cross-slot;;9l formed g therein ,anden a ed by aleyepSZ forming part of ,afeed control member 93.;which will bQyDfQS: ently described.

A proj eating arm 94.- on the-lower: end 0f rthe feed column134.-may;.bs6ul1e d'to the baseglfia'by," means of screws and when so secured, thee e l m 5.-, er n. i tposit onio deli r P e t thei eedsfla it 553-, Aeremov-l blfifi? W ither e dr lumnz.whememovedi gives access to the;: interior of therfeed columns.

, I S- inI t jextreme upward fi tion (as... shownimfiigure; L) thejshaft' 6.1. has moved its extreme distance to the right, and. when. the

and also to the feed chamber. The method of feeding will alsobe presently described. 7

The base 16 has .a hole 91 formed therein spaced apart from and parallel to the hole 11, and 'a boss member 98, suitably secured to the table I in spaced relation to the base 16, has a hole 99 formed therein in alignment with the hole 91 so that a rod I00 may reciprocate therein. The base 16 also has a hole IOI spaced apart from and parallel to the hole 11, and a second boss member I02 (similar to the boss 98) suitably secured to the table in spaced relation the base 16 has a hole I03 formed thereinin alignment with the hole IOI so that a rod I04 may reciprocate therein.

A cross bar I05 has a hole I06 therein which forms a working fit on the shaft portion 69, and spaced apart therefrom are holes I01 and I08 which respectively form press fits on the ends of the rods I00 and I04 and the bar I05 is secured to these rods respectively by means of taper pins I09 and I I0. The bar I 05 also has threaded holes carrying bolts III and II2 provided respectively with lock-nuts II I and I I2.

A second bar member II5, which may also be seen in Figures 6 and 7, has spaced holes I I6 and I I1 formed therein which respectively fit the rods I00 and I04 and said bar member is fixedly secured to these rods a predetermined distance from the bar I 05 by means of set-screws H8 and I I9, thus forming a cross-head.

The bar member II5 has a cut out portion I at one end and a second cut out portion I2I at the other end, and studs I22 and I23 have their lower ends mounted in holes in said out out portions and secured therein by set-screws I24 and I25 respectively and carry threads I26 and I21 on their upper ends. A lever I28 has a hole therein forming a working fit on the stud I23, and a second lever I29 is similarly mounted on the stud I22, Each lever has hemispherical holes I30 formed in the upper surfaces thereof to accommodate steel balls I 3 I.

A bar member I32 carries holes I33 and I34 which form working fits on the studs I22 and I23 respectively, and carries hemispherical holes I35 which are also adapted to engage the steel balls I3I under conditions to be presently described. The bar I32 has a slot I36 formed therein, and holes I31 and I38 are within the slot.

The bar member II5 has a slot I39 formed therein which matches the slot I36 when the bar I32 is placed on the studs I22 and I 23. Short studs I40 and MI are mounted in the bar II5 within the slot I39 so that they engage the holes I31 and I38 respectively.

Matching bearing members I42 and I43 are provided with holes which engage the studs I40.

and MI, and are of such length that they form a fit within the slots I39 and I36 respectively. A semi-circular groove I44 is formed in the mem ber I42 and this groove has a stepped portion I45, An identical semi-circular groove I44a is formed in the member I43 and has a stepped portion I45a. When the two members are together in the slots I36 and I39, as described above, the semi-circular grooves match and receive the shank of a bushing I46, and the stepped portions I45a receive the shoulder I41 of said bushing, A diagonal slot I 48 formed in the bushing perm-its the bushing to clamp the cups, under conditions to be presently explained, without scarring them.

With the bushing between the members I42 and I43, the latter are mounted on the studs I40 and MI, and with the levers I20 and I 29 posi-.

' positions that the balls I3I are moved away from tioned on the studs I23 and I22 and carrying the balls I 3|, the bar member I32 is applied as shown in Figures 4 and 6. Then springs I49 and I50 are applied to the studs I22 and I23, and nuts I5I and I52 respectively engage the threaded ends I24 and I25 thereof for adjusting the tension of the springs. This assembly forms a chuck for holding the cups while they are being finished. The tension of the springs causes the bushing I46 to contract and firmly hold the work-when the levers I28 and I29 are in such position that the balls I3I are embraced by the hemispherical holes in the levers and the hemispherical holes in the bar I32.

When thelevers I28 and I29 are moved to such the hemispherical holes I35 in the bar I32, the balls encounter imperforate portions of the bar, causing the latter to move upwardly against the urge of the springs and this in turn permits the bushing to expand to its original diameter, with the result that the work (cup) is free and may be discharged therefrom in a manner to be presently described.

A plate I56 secured to the table supports upright studs I51 and I58, and the lever I28 is positioned between these studs. Likewise the lever I29 is positioned between upright studs I60 and I6I supported by a plate I59 secured to the table.

The feed control member 93 is mounted on a stud shaft I62, mounted on the table I0, and is provided with a lever 92 already described, and additional actuating arms I63 and I64 with a space I65 therebetween. This space is so proits full stroke both forward (towards the left as seen in Figure 3) and back (toward the right).

As the bar I05 approaches its forward limit, it engages the actuating arm I63 and causes the member 93 to move in a, counter-clockwise direction and thus, and through themedium of its lever 92, the bar member is retracted. When the bar I05 moves to the right and approaches the limit of movement it engages the actuating arm I64 and moves the member 93 in a clockwise direction and in turn causes the bar member 90 to advance and discharge a cup from the feed cavity 56 to the position in front of the shaft portion 69 shown in Figure 5.

The lever 13, as may be seen in Figure 11 is mounted in a slot in the block 66, wherein the clearance space I66 between the lever and the block limits the downward movement of the lever.

A slot or notch I61 formed in the lever 13 with slightly angular sides I68 and I68a. The side I66a projects below the lever and is provided with a camming surface I69 adapted to act with the end 12 of the shaft 61.

As the shaft 61 moves to the right, the collar 10 on the shaft 69 moves the cross-head bar I05 and moves it to the position, shown in Figure 11 and Figure 5, where the bar I05 is engaged by the notch I61. As the shaft 61 and 69 moves to the left the cross-head remains stationary until the end 12 of the shaft 61 engages the surface I69 and causes the lever to rise to a position where its notch I61 is completely disengaged from the bar I05-then, as the end 12 engages said bar, the cross-head is moved to the left to a point where the screws II I and II2 (Figure 3) abut the base member 16. (This movement is effected when the levers 63 and 65-Figure 1-have been moved down until their axes are substantially in alignment, or he on the infinite plane.)

The primer cup has, by this movement, been 7 brought forward into engagement with and ishedoif by the tool 232. The movement ofthe cross-head, due to the fact that the levers I28 and I29 ar'e restrained by the studs 'lsa and *I BI, effects the clamping o'fthecup in the'biishing Me, and the cup is backed up by the end of the shaft 69.

The crank 28 then starts moving the connected ends of'the levers'63 entree u wardly, causing the shaft 61,89 tom-eve to theright as 'seenini 'ignre 3. By the time the collar "lllengag es the bar I05, the end of the shaft has left the bushing andthe end of the cu therein. Asthe collar l'c' 'eontin i'es to move the bar I to the right, a point i s'ie'ached where the bar is engaged by the noth'in th lever 13 and the end of the shaft was'sumee thep'dsition shown in Figure 5.- The' bar l'flfi'has'by this time actuated thearm H54 and 'hets'caused the bar 9 to shoot the neiit cup'froin the cavity '56 (Figure 3) t0 the position in front of shaft 69 shown in Figure 5.

At the same tlli'lth levers I28 and I29 have been restrained by the studs [51 and IE0, causing the balls l3! to encounter solid portionsof the bar and releasing the finished cup positioned'in the bushing M8. The finished cup, however,- remains freely in position in the bushing until encountered by the next cup (which has j'u'st been placed in front of the end of the shaft 69'by the bar e) when the shafts Bland 6'9 again move to the left. The finished cup is therefore'pushedout by, and its place taken by, the siicce'eding'cup, and further movement to the left effects the clamping of the latter therein, the retraction ofthe' bar-9n, permitting another cup to pass into the cavity 56, and the feeding of the open end of the cup against the tool 22. I

As the finished cups are Dus'lied'out in the manner described, they fall'throuigh an opening in the table I0, onto a chute H8, and thence intoa suitable bin or container I"! I. I

Although we have herein shown and described by way of example the best embodiment ofthe invention now known'to' us, it'is obvious that many changes may be made'in the arrangements herein shown and described withoiit departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a machine for finishing the ends of di" cups or shells, a support, a finishing tool carried on said support, and means for driving the same, a work holder reciprocativly movable on said support'toward and away from saidto'ol, mechanism for moving said work holder including serially arranged linkages one end of which is c'ri nectedto a cross-head carrying said wcrli'holder and the other End Of which is connected 156 said support, an intermediate pivotal connection between the linkages moved upwardly'tomdve the work holder away from said tooland adapted to be moved to the infinite plane as work in said holder is engaged by said'to'ol, and sett'abl' stops associated with said work holder for positively limiting the movement'of said work holder in the direction of said tool.

2. In a machine for finishingth'e ends'ofcups or shells", a support, a fiiiishing'tool mounted on said support, drivin means for said tool, aguide way mounted on said support, a cross-headreciprooa-lly carried on said guidev'va'y and including a work holder, a pushrod'niovably carriedonsaid support and means forreciprocatirig'the same, said pushrod car'rying' a pair of'sp'aced engaging members, one adapted to engage and" I said cross-head when said pushfod is' moving the direalm an t e ether'edepted to en a e and drive said cross had in an opposite direction when said ushieeis whoring in its other direction, the space 'btwe'nsaidengaging members defining a periodiri which said cross-head remains motionless, andnieans' for feeding a cup to said work holder dining saidpriod. I

"'3. ameehihe for automatically finishing theends of priming cups and thelike, a hopper adapted to receiv s quantity ofsaid cups, a confisuratee plate in'thebottom of said hopper and its ails slightly inclined 'frbm the vertical, means for rotating said plate, a plurality of seated notches formed in the bottom edge of the wall of said hopper, whereby only up ended cups lying in the configurations of said'plate may pass" laterallyfrom said hopper, "a chute having its-upper endpositioned tdrceive said cups passingfla-terally'from said hopper, a, work holder, feeding nea'nsfo'r individually feeding said cups from said chute to said holder, a finishing tool andmeansfor driving the same at a constant rate of speed, means for advancing said work holder to bring work in 'said holder into engagement with said 'tool and thence for withdrawing saidholderito' a position fcrr'eceiving a succeeding *c ipgand' means for discharging the finished cupfrom's'aid holderto make wayfor said sucseeding cup. I I I I 4'. In a machinefor automatically finishing the ends of priming cups and the like, a hopper adapted to receive a quantity of said cups, a configuratedpiate inthe bottom Of saidhopper and havingfits' slightly inclinedfrom the v'e'rtieal,

meahsier rotating Said platen plllfality of spaced netehes termed in the bottom edge of the wall of said hopper,- whereb only lip-ended cups lying in the configurationsof said plate may pass laterally from s'aidhopper, an inclined chamber adjacent to saidnotchesfor receiving said cups passing'laterally from said hopper a chute having its upper end connected to said chamber for receiving oriented cups therefrom, a star wheel between said inclined chamber and the upper end of said chute, a work holder, feeding means for individually feeding said cups from said chute to said-holder, a-finishing tool and means for drivin the same at a'con'st'ant rateof speed, means for "advancing said work hdldei tobring the end of the work in saidholderinto' engagement with the "end 'of' said tool and thence for withdrawing said holder 'to'aposition for receiving a succeeding cup,'settab'le stop means adapted to be engaged by'saidholde'r to limit the movement of *eii efwitii the ie ther featureei foam means pivotal l-y supported on-said machine and having spaced 'h'g airigarnis; one er "which when en- "b he tress-heed moving in one of said dir etfie s, retracts said plunger, nd "the" other p I II direction advances said plunger.

I c'l'nnt'ai for f nishing the ends of drawn cups or shells, I a'fs tipport; e; finishing" tool carried on said andihaving its axis eh a h'orizontal-plane, iiieans for drivin said tool, a work ranged linkages one end of which is connected 5 to said cross-head and the other end of which is connected to said support, said linkages including an intermediate pivotal connection adapted to move upwardly to move said holder away from said tool and adapted to be moved downwardly as work in said holder is to be engaged by said tool, settable stops for limiting the movement of said cross head at least in the direction of said tool, and means for applying driving power to said cross-head solely via said intermediate pivotal connection.

HERBERT P. ECK. MARTIN M. KARLAN. COSIMO PERRUCCI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 500,511 Richards June 27, 1893 579,357 Brown Mar, 23, 1897 636,911 Mergenthaler Nov. 14, 1899 993,158 Einfeldt May 23, 1911 1,435,035 Walroden Nov. 7, 1922 1,632,852 Richter June 21, 1927 1,691,825 Pruitt Nov. 13, 1928 1,945,276 Kahl Jan. 30, 1934 1,968,840 Linn Aug. 7, 1934 2,063,339 Probach Dec. 8, 1936 2,082,929 Yager et al June 8, 1937 2,176,608 Marsilius Oct. 17, 1939 2,359,931 Mofiitt Oct. 10, 1944 

